Women in Temptation (Jiri Vejdelek 2010):Czech Republic

Reviewed by Linda Sweatt at The Arlington Theater, part of the Santa Barbara Film Festivale

When the opportunity of love presents itself… enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Women in Temptation. Eliska Balzerova, Vojtech Dryk  and Michal Gulyas star in a film written and directed by Jiri Vejdelek. This film has been written up as the Czech version of Sex and the City and this is a just comparison, as the women are independent, beautifully fashionable and sexy! This film is a funny comedy leaving the whole audience laughing. The story revolves around three generations of women, the daughter, mother and grandmother. Their relationships between each other twists and turns as they connect, separate and reconnect.

Because the mother has been recently abandoned  by her cheating husband of many years, she tries to get back into the dating game with the help of her daughter and own mother. They coach her, set her up and ultimately get all tangled up in each others love stories. Women in Temptation is very interesting as it wraps around layers of relationships as everyone swaps partners. The daughters boyfriend falls for the older mother while the older man wants the younger daughter. Meanwhile it’s the oldest woman, the grandmother who is constantly stealing the show. It is very refreshing for a film to feature the oldest woman as the sexiest. She was a glamorous movie star when she was younger. Still flamboyant and flashy, she just got a boob job and is happy to show them off. By flirting with every man she meets she is able to keep her energy high, her outlook positive and enjoy life even though she has a deadly disease. She refuses to succumb to her death sentence and insists on enjoying life to the fullest as she writes her memoirs.

This movie really focuses on the feminine, some would say, “a chick flick” This is a sensual  journey to forgiveness. The professional mother is insecure and timid as she attempts to repair her feelings of self worth and confidence. Light weight and entertaining, yet also making references to deeper issues. The younger daughter is obsessed with political activism, an avid environmentalist who feeds the hungry. The dates take us into beautiful countryside while they go horseback riding and rock climbing. Of coarse with so many stories of love thereis betrayal, deceit and pain. But in the end love prevails; everyone takes advantage of the magical moments in life, when the opportunity of love presents itself all enjoy to the fullest.

This is my first film I have seen from the Czech Republic, it translated very well to this American audience as it seems fun was had by all!